Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs

Dodge is entering the heavy heavy duty (class 4 and 5) truck segment with the Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cab trucks. With the awesome 6.7L Cummins TurboDiesel engine and 19,500 lbs GVWR Dodge is going to get a good share of the class 4 and 5 truck segments.

The 6.7L CTD puts out 610 ft lbs torque and 305 hp, comes with an exhaust brake, and has a 350,000 mile life to overhaul interval.

“Delivering premium commercial performance, capability and durability, the all-new 2008 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs offer the segment’s most potent powertrain combinations in work trucks that get the job done,” said Mike Donoughe, Vice President – Body-on-frame Product Team.

Sales of class 3-5 trucks grew 42% in 2005 up to 261,627. The class 4-5 truck segment is expected to grow another 18% by 1025. The 4500/5500 Chassis cabs are targeted at small business owners that have varying needs. The frame behind the cab is a standard fit to most aftermarket beds that fit heavy duty use. Along with standard frame rails these trucks come with either a 6 speed automatic transmission or a 6 speed manual transmission, both come with power take off capability.

“We built the all-new 2008 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs for heavy-duty chassis cab buyers who want a powerful, capable and versatile commercial-quality vehicle,” said George Murphy, Senior Vice President – Global Brand Marketing, Chrysler Group. “With commercial performance, durability and capability, the 2008 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs offer dominant powertrain packages, a commercial-grade upfit-friendly chassis, and bold, ‘big-rig’ Ram styling.”

Along with power and flexibility comes safety. The 2008 Chassis cab Rams come with a bevy of safety features that keep the driver and others on the road safe:

* BeltAlert – Enhanced seat belt reminder system. If a vehicle is driven without the driver being properly belted, the system will periodically activate a chime and illuminate an icon in the instrument cluster to remind the driver to buckle up

* Child-Protection Rear-door Locks – Allow customers to disable the rear-door, inside-release handle. A small lever on the door-shut face operates this feature

* Energy-absorbing Steering Column – Steering column utilizes two coaxial tubes that move relative to each other in order to allow the column to move forward for enhanced energy-absorption during an impact

* Enhanced Accident Response System (EARS) – In the event of an impact, this system makes it easier for emergency personnel to see and reach occupants by turning on the interior lighting and unlocking doors after air bag deployment

* Four-wheel Anti-lock-brake System (ABS) – Senses and prevents wheel lockup, offering improved steering control under extreme braking and/or slippery conditions

* Integrated Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter and Ignition Key – The remote keyless entry locks and unlocks doors and turns on interior lamps. If the vehicle is equipped with a vehicle-theft security alarm, the remote also arms and disarms that system

* Knee Bolsters – The steering column lower instrument panel and the glove-box door are reinforced to further protect occupants during frontal impacts. They both restrain and position the occupant properly and enable air bags to work effectively

* Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) – This system helps ease the installation of compatible aftermarket child seats

* Multi-stage Air Bag System – Offering enhanced protection, this system is designed to deploy based on the severity of an impact

* Security Alarm – Arms and disarms alarm feature through remote control, flashes lights and sounds horn upon unauthorized entry

* Sentry Key Engine Immobilizer Theft Deterrent System – This utilizes an engine key that has an embedded transponder with a pre-programmed security key code. When the key is inserted into the ignition, the controller sends a random number to the transponder and the engine is allowed to start. If the correct key is not used, the engine will shut off after only a few seconds

* Three-point Seat Belts – Front outboard seating positions and all rear seating positions in the Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs have lap and shoulder belts

“The commercial vehicle market is essentially white space for the Dodge brand,” said Murphy. “We will continue to fill it with bold, powerful and capable vehicles.”